13 Facts About Suryavarman II

Suryavarman II, posthumously named Paramavishnuloka, was the ruler of the Khmer Empire from 1113 until his death in 1150.

Suryavarman II is most famously known as the builder of Angkor Wat, the largest Hindu temple in the world, which he dedicated to Vishnu.

Suryavarman II sent a mission to the Chola dynasty of south India and presented a precious stone to the Chola Emperor Kulothunga Chola I in 1114 CE.

Suryavarman II staged large military operations in the east against the Chams, but these were largely unsuccessful.

In 1145 AD, Suryavarman II appears to have invaded Champa, defeated its king Jaya Indravarman III, and sacked the capital Vijaya with the help of Kulothunga Chola II.

Suryavarman II presided over the construction of Angkor Wat, the largest temple ever built in the capital, and in many modern minds the ultimate masterpiece of Khmer architecture.

Suryavarman II married, but no record exists of his wives' names.

Suryavarman II was unusual among Khmer kings in making Vishnu rather than Shiva the focus of court religious life.

Suryavarman II was the first Khmer king to be depicted in art.

Suryavarman II's image is part of a unique and detailed portrait of court life in the Angkor period.

Inscriptional evidence suggests that Suryavarman II died between 1150, possibly during a military campaign against Champa; before that, his troops were defeated by Vietnamese troops led by To Hien Thanh.

Some sources said he died around 1150 in Angkor due to the fact that the records of Suryavarman II stopped around that year.

Suryavarman II was given the posthumous name Paramavishnuloka, "He Who Has Entered the Heavenly World of Vishnu".